Kara Swisher is the epitome of a multi-hyphenate: a podcast host, journalist, author, and CEO agitator.
Swisher has also, in her way, turned IDGAF into her personal brand. Deeply sourced and happy to ask the hard questions, she doesn’t care about being liked. As she said during a recent live event, “I have four kids!”
As the host of On With Kara Swisher, her twice weekly podcast for Vox Media, she grills leaders in tech and politics, coaxing them to share the things they may not reveal on any other gabfest. For Pivot, her Vox show with New York University marketing professor Scott Galloway, she keeps the banter between herself and her cohost—but still, she doesn’t hold back. Swisher’s opinions are her own, and she doesn’t hesitate to share them.
Swisher brought all of her opinions, and more, to this week’s episode of The Big Interview, going deep on AI, Silicon Valley’s relationship with President Donald Trump, and which tech CEO is her least favorite.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
KATIE DRUMMOND: Kara Swisher, welcome to The Big Interview. Thank you for being here.
KARA SWISHER: Thank you. I’m sorry I can’t be in-person at your beautiful studio.
Next time.
Who’s that behind you?
Actually nobody listening to this can see it, but it’s a giant version of the WIRED cover with Edward Snowden.
Oh yeah. Look at him.
One of our reporters, Andy Greenberg, had this in his house for years, and then finally was like, “My wife needs me to get this out of the house. Can I bring it to the office?” And I said, “sure.” So now it sits behind me when I record this podcast.
I did a good interview with him many years ago.
He’s still out there.
Yeah. He is.
We like to start with some quick-fire questions. I’m sure you’re used to this kind of thing. You ready to go?
Ready.
OK. Most active text thread you’re on.
God. With my kids.
Podcasts or Substacks?
What do you mean? Do I listen?
Pick one.
Oh, podcasts.
I figured.
Obviously.
The tech exec you would least want to get stuck in an elevator with.
Oh my God. All of them. Um, Mark Zuckerberg.
More disruptive: AI or social media?
Social media.